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Honoring our ancestors.

Spam and phishing emails

We continue to get reports from members about “phishing” emails that seem to be from The Society of Indiana Pioneers. The emails may ask you to click a link or to reply to the email to verify something. A recent one was sent on October 8. These emails are not from the Society!

It’s always a good idea to verify the sender of any unexpected email. You can click on the sender’s name to see their email address; if it seems suspicious, delete the email or send it to your spam folder.

Welcome!

Eric KochWelcome to The Society of Indiana Pioneers! As president of the society, I welcome anyone who has an interest in the pioneer period in Indiana to join us and encourage anyone who has an eligible pioneer ancestor to become a member by submitting an application. Since our founding in 1916, we have recognized over 10,000 ancestors and I would invite you to honor your Indiana Pioneer ancestors as well.

Your membership helps support our history education mission, which includes grants for school field trips, graduate fellowship programs and the John H. Holliday Award for junior history efforts. Each year the Society sponsors Pilgrimages to historic sites, Intergenerational Day, our virtual “Sip with SIP” events, and our annual meeting and luncheon.

As a member, you will receive the Pioneer Times newsletter and the annual Yearbook, which contains articles, information concerning our pioneer ancestors, and a listing of our current members. Our meetings provide the opportunity to meet other descendants of Indiana’s pioneers. Please join us!

Eric A. Koch
President

What’s new?

Oct 15
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A Note from the President

By Article, Home Page

It’s been a busy summer for your Society!

On June 18 Pioneers made a Pilgrimage to the Wabash & Erie Canal Park in Delphi, where we enjoyed a two-mile boat ride on the historic canal see photo on reverse side, ate an 1840s-style meal, and toured the museum and historic structures on the property in Pioneer fellowship.

Board member Jeff Hornung was the presenter for the June “Sip with SIP” podcast on the topic of “The new villAIns of Scamville (The capitalization is intentional).” The drink of choice was Mountain Dew. Chandler Lighty, director of the Indiana Archives, spoke on September 16″ about the new Indiana Archives building that recently opened. The drink of choice was Diet Pepsi.

Society volunteers manned tables at the National Genealogical Society Convention in Fort Wayne in May and at the Indiana State Fair in August. We are expecting many new membership applications as a result of this engagement. Thanks to all who volunteered!

We also launched our America 250 Project, which recognizes members whose Pioneer ancestor fought in the American Revolution. Eligible members will receive a certificate suitable for framing and will be recognized in person at our Annual Meeting on November 7.

Our Fall Pilgrimage to the new Indiana State Archives building on October 2 SOLD OUT! We were the first organization to tour the new building which houses among other important documents – the Indiana Constitution. Due to the high level of interest, we will be making a second Pilgrimage to the Archives building on June 18, 2027.

Thank you for your membership. I look forward to seeing everyone at our Annual Meeting on November 7 at the Meridian Hills Country Club!

In Pioneer Fellowship,

Eric A. Koch

Oct 15
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Society’s America 250 Project Honors Revolutionary War Ancestors

By Article, Home Page

Members with Pioneer ancestors who fought in the American Revolution will be recognized through the Society’s America 250 Project. Eligible members will be recognized in person at the 2026 Annual Meeting on November 7 at the Meridian Hills Country Club and a group photo will be taken. All eligible members will receive a certificate suitable tor framing. This project has been officially recognized by the Indiana America 250 Committee. For more information, please contact Sally Fadely at office@indianapioneers.org.

Upcoming

Saturday, November 7, 2026
Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Meridian Hills Country Club, Indianapolis

Thursday, January 21, 2027
Sip with SIP
Jon Kay – “Basketmaking in Early Indiana”

Friday, June 18, 2027
Hoosier Heritage Spring/Summer Pilgrimage
“Encore: Behind the Scenes at the Indiana Archives”

Contact us

140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis IN 46204
(317) 441-8293
office@indianapioneers.org

The Society office is staffed part-time. Please call or email to check current hours.

Staff

Office Manager
Sally Fadely, Indianapolis

Genealogist
Terry Engel, Martinsville